Burnin' at the Bluff Turns 10

Each fall, the shore-clinging trail at Council Bluff Lake—two hours south of St. Louis—blazes with turning leaves and enduring riders. Burnin' at the Bluff, which hosts its 10th annual race October 12, typically draws about 150 cyclists to a fast-but-rocky trail that darts among coves, rising and falling over ridge after crumbling-limestone ridge.

The route begins in a scenic field where employees from Richmond Heights' Mesa Cycles drop smoke bombs to start the race. The chaotic start involves racers sprinting on foot through the fog to find their bikes. Riders then jockey for position down a gravel road before plunging onto a single track. Even the slightest bit of moisture on the trail leads to slippery roots and slick rocks, so the first lap often includes skinned legs and forearms. Eventually, riders spread out along the 13-mile course, which features a little of everything the Missouri Ozarks have to offer: tight turns through cedar forests; rocketing downhill bursts, followed by lung-burning climbs; straight-aways under tunnels of hanging pine boughs. There are also technical, twisting ups and chattering downs, as well as a minefield of cobblestones and bedrock ledges that seems to scream out, "Yes, the Ozarks used to be a 10,000-foot mountain range!" And when not gripping their handlebars—or going over the top of them—cyclists can take in the bursting red, yellow, and orange leaves that frame the lake's rippled surface.

Cyclists can choose from the six- or 12-hour races. Divisions include solo men, solo women, and three-person teams. The six-hour winners typically log four laps for women, and five or six laps for men. The 12-hour solos log between eight and 10 laps. And the winning 12-hour team typically brings in its final panting participant—decked out in a helmet-mounted halogen that looks like a helicopter spot-lighting a suspect—sometime around 10 p.m., with 11 to 12 laps total.

The event attracts cyclists with a vast range of skill and stamina. Experienced riders often shout, “Keep going, buddy!” as they zip past first-timers. At the after-party, an MC distributes the well-earned awards and wig-wearing organizers hand out honors for those who didn't place: things like participant who traveled the farthest to attend, oldest and youngest racer, and the most memorable mustache.